The Sabres brass is crying about the Oilers doing this to poor old them like a bunch of incompetent lttle cry babies. It is part of the rules, the option is there for all teams to make runs at restricted FA’s, not just the Oilers. Now they are turning it into a personal vandetta, what a joke. They are quickly being the laughing stock of the NHL and I love seeing it unfold.
Edmonton didn’t even have an interest in Vanek for that money but the Sabres showed their poker face, Edmonton bluffed and the Sabres called. Pathetic. Now they want to whine and go on about how the next time the Oiler’s have a big restricted FA they are going to offer him a big contract. Won’t it be funny when the Oilers don’t match and take their 4 first picks and stick them with another huge OVERPAID contract? Oh, the irony of dealing with morons. As Kevin Lowe said, it is a business.
Also, this could have all been avoided if they were smart and locked up Vanek 2 weeks ago…..
Like Florida did with Nathan Horton. 6 years at 24 million. They shelled out atleast an extra 20 million dollars on poor managemant and screwed themselves for years to come.
So now what do they do? Blame Edmonton, it is their fault that they can’t run a team is what they will want you to believe. They should look in the mirror if they want someone to blame.
I also find it hilarious that the next few years are expected to be very strong drafts with a ton of future superstars coming along. They even say that one (John Tavares) is the next Crosby.
I must say, what a bunch of incompentent babies. Something else that gets lost in this is what it does in terms of players going to arbritation, it gives them more money. They can go into their hearing with the Vanek contract in hand and say, if he is worth this, then I am worth this, driving up their value. Is this Edmonton’s fault or Buffalo’s fault?
I can guarantee you that had Buffalo offered Vanek 7 years/35 million last week….
He would have been signed, sealed and delivered. Again, who’s fault is that?
Yeah, Vancouver whined too, that doesn’t make it right. Also, Edmonton is small market AND, the restricted FA rule isn’t just there for nothing. It is part of the CBA, any team can utilize it and Clarke and Lowe did it properly. Etiquette? This isn’t a game of golf, it’s a business, one that Sabres management obviously doesn’t know how to manage. Also, to tell them they would match ANY offer is pure stupidity.
288-good point
Cory
